WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of its Capitol Cares initiative, Capitol Pest, Bethesda, Md., recently donated more than $14,000 in services and monetary gifts to charitable organizations supporting those affected by COVID-19.

Since April, the company donated more than $10,000 worth of free disinfecting services to Covenant House’s five Washington, D.C., locations. Covenant House is an agency that offers shelter, meals, classes, counseling, healthcare and more to abused, homeless and trafficked youth.

“We launched our Capitol Cares initiative in early April with a mission to find worthy causes that need our help; whether it be employee time to volunteer, a monetary donation, a service donation or any other qualifying way that we can help a worthy cause,” said Brian Schoonmaker, president of Capitol Pest.

The company also recently donated $4,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Society, which is currently providing food and basic needs — such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo and more — to families that have lost their income as a result of COVID-19. The donation supported more than 100 families, nine of which Schoonmaker and his wife personally delivered food and supplies. Capitol Pest plans to donate another $4,000 to the church next month.

“As our company grows, so does our responsibility for giving back,” Schoonmaker said. “We are blessed to be in an essential industry and people can use our help now more than ever.”

Capitol Pest founded its Capitol Pest Cares Program in 1936 with the goal of helping those in its community that are less fortunate. The program’s committee is currently working to identify one cause that they can donate money, services or time to each month, according to the company’s website.

“On behalf of the 706,000 residents in Washington, D.C., I thank Capitol Pest for their legacy of service,” Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote in a letter of appreciation to Capitol Pest.

Schoonmaker added, “We all need to do our part to contribute to society and prop up our fellow man. It is the right thing to do.”